Vol. 393 No. 2
asked the Minister for Health the discussions which took place between himself and the Taoiseach prior to the removal of the acting chief executive officer of the Southern Health Board; whether the Secretary of his Department was acting on his instructions when he had discussions with the person concerned leading to his ceasing to be the acting chief executive officer; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
28.
asked the Minister for Health the exact circumstances which led to the removal from office on Friday, 28 April 1989 of the acting chief executive officer of the Southern Health Board; and the reason for this action.
55.
asked the Minister for Health if he will make a statement on a report (details supplied) which contained allegations by the former deputy chief executive of the Southern Health Board that he was told by the Secretary of his Department that the Taoiseach had personally ordered the removal of the deputy chief executive from his post.
46.
asked the Minister for Health if the Taoiseach instructed him or the Secretary of his Department to request the acting chief executive officer of the Southern Health Board to resign his position in May 1989.
116.
asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to reports (details supplied) wherein the former deputy chief executive officer of the Southern Health Board alleged that it was on the Taoiseach's instructions that he was dismissed; if the Taoiseach personally gave the instruction that the then deputy chief executive officer not continue in his appointment and that he further should not continue to act as programme manager of the General Hospitals' Care Programme of the Southern Health Board; if so, if he will justify the reason for such directions which led to the dismissal of the person concerned on 28 April, 1989; if he will clarify the role of the chief executive officer of the Southern Health Board at Cork Airport on 28 April 1989; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 5, 28, 55, 46 and 116 together.
Mr. Christy Walsh was neither removed from office in the Southern Health Board nor dismissed as Opposition Deputies persistently keep trying to claim. As I explained in this House in response to questions put down on 11 May last by a number of Deputies, see reply in columns 2155 to 2169 of the Dáil Official Report of that date, changes made in the management structures in the Southern Health Board on Friday, 18 April 1989 were made by the chief executive officer in accordance with the provisions of the Health Act.
This is what in fact transpired. A letter issued by the Southern Health Board management on 24 April 1989 indicated that it was most likely that salary payments would be postponed for periods commencing with the first batch of payments due at the end of April 1989. Serious concern was expressed in Government at the implications of the issue of that letter for the Government's policy on the public finances and indeed on the stability of the system generally. I asked the secretary of my Department and two assistant secretaries with responsibility for financial and personnel matters to meet with the chief executive officer of the health board and to advise him of the Government's concern.
The chief executive officer who had returned to Ireland from annual leave early on the morning of 28 April met with those officers of my Department in Cork Airport on that day. The chief executive officer who was ill, and in fact, had been so for some time, indicated on being contacted that he would not be resuming duty as he had planned as his illness had continued. He also indicated that he would be appointing a deputy and after consultation with the chairman of the board as he is required to do under the Health Act, 1970, he appointed Mr. Seán Hurley, programme manager, as deputy chief executive officer from 28 April 1989. I should also make the point that Mr. Christy Walsh, programme manager's period as deputy chief executive officer ended with the return of the chief executive officer to Ireland. I should say also that Mr. Walsh retired from his position as programme manager in the health board service on 8 August 1989, as the Deputy is well aware.
Will the Minister confirm or deny that Mr. Christy Walsh was telling the truth when he said the secretary of the Minister's Department, Mr. Liam Flanagan, informed him that it was on the instructions of the Taoiseach that he was being relieved of his duties?
I was not present at the meeting at which the secretary of my Department spoke to Mr. Christy Walsh.
The Taoiseach is sitting next to the Minister. Let him ask the Taoiseach if he said that. He refuses to answer in this House.
In Question No. 5 in my name I asked what discussions took place between the Minister for Health and the Taoiseach that led to the visit by the secretary of his Department to Cork Airport to notify Mr. Walsh that he was being relieved of his duties. He has failed to answer that question. Can we take it now that the allegations made by Mr. Walsh are in fact correct, as the Minister has not denied them; and will the Minister confirm, in relation to the dismissal of Mr. Walsh as programme manager for the general hospitals in the Southern Health Board, that all aspects of the 1970 Health Act were conformed with?
I want to repeat again what I stated in answer to the question, that Mr. Walsh was not dismissed. Mr. Walsh's term as deputy chief execitive officer——
As programme manager?
——was finished on the day that the chief executive officer returned to work. Nobody has a prescriptive right to be appointed a deputy CEO. In other health board areas the deputy CEO's position is rotated amongst the senior members of the various health boards. Indeed there is no independent or structured post of deputy CEO. There is a special provision in the midlands and the mid-west because the CEO is in charge of both boards. Otherwise the Deputy CEO is only appointed when the CEO is unable to perform his duties as was the case in the Southern Health Board. As to the question raised by the Deputy I would say that there are 15 members of Government and it is usual to have discussions on various topics. In this case not alone members of the Government but members of the Opposition expressed concern, and one member at the time suggested that I should go to Cork myself to sort out the very serious problems that had arisen.
May I advise the House that I have six priority questions to dispose of within the prescribed period of time, a quarter of an hour? Therefore, we cannot remain unduly long on any one question.
The wrong man is answering the questions.
I think it is significant that the Minister has not confirmed that the Health Act, 1970, has been conformed with. I would like to ask him again, is there any precedent in the public health service for any such removal from office and will he now admit for the first time that this letter which was circulated had the prior approval of the Department of Health and that Mr. Walsh was made a scapegoat for the Minister's own incompetence and mismanagement of the affairs of the Southern Health Board?
A Cheann Comhairle, what I would be saying if I were asked the question is that the health board were well rid of the same Mr. Walsh and I said it here in the Dáil when I was speaking on an Adjournment Debate.
The Deputy will find another time to ventilate that grievance.
To be deprived of the right here to ask a supplementary question or to speak on an issue like this——
Deputy, please allow me to make some progress.
I will repeat what I said, that the health board are well aware of the facts. The health service and the health board are well rid of Mr. Christy Walsh.
The Deputy CEO was not dismissed, he was not removed from office. His term of office had expired——
He was removed.
His term of office had expired with the return of the CEO and everything was done in accordance with the 1970 Health Act.
The CEO did not even meet Mr. Walsh. The Taoiseach gave instructions and he is running away from it now.
